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Pet Allergy Treatments

Can dogs get allergies just
like people?

Yes, dogs can get allergies just like people do. There are
many ways in which the allergy can display itself. Some
allergic pets will have respiratory symptoms. Another form
of allergy involves the digestive system, resulting in
vomiting or diarrhea. The most common forms of allergy show
up as skin problems.

What kinds of things can
animals be allergic to?

Almost anything that an animal comes in contact with has the
potential to produce an allergic response. The most common
types of allergies in the dog are bacterial, contact,
inhalant, flea, and food allergies.

Bacterial Allergies

Staph bacteria that are normally present in the environment
can produce an allergic response in some dogs. The animal’s
immune system should recognize the bacteria and keep it from
creating a problem. However, in animals with poor immune
system function, the bacteria can invade the deeper layers
of the skin and cause an infection called pyoderma.

Symptoms: The signs can range from raised circular
lesions to generalized flakiness and hair loss. Intense
itching usually accompanies the condition. Staph allergies
can also be secondary to some primary allergic condition.
For example a dog that has a flea infestation will initially
itch due to the allergic reaction from the fleas, then
develop a Staph infection and itch from the bacterial
infection as well as the flea infestation.

Treatment: Staph infections can be treated with
antibiotics, but can easily reoccur. Your veterinarian can
prescribe topical as well as oral medications to treat the
problem. Some pets require treatment with a Staph vaccine to
help bolster the immune systems ability to fight the
bacteria.

Contact Allergies
Contact allergies are not commonly seen in pets. This form
of allergy is a local reaction to some type of chemical.
Examples of contact allergy include reactions to flea
products, Cedar dog beds, disinfectants, or any substance
that may irritate the skin.

Treatment: Usually, removing the offending substance
from the pet's environment will resolve the problem.

Inhalant Allergies

Inhalant allergy, or atopy, is the most common kind of
allergy seen in pets. The condition is similar to hay fever
in people, but the symptoms are manifested in the skin
rather than the respiratory system. Dogs may be allergic to
tree pollen, grass pollen, weed pollen, mold spores, and
house dust mites. Allergies to plant pollens are usually
seasonal. Mold and house dust can create problems anytime of
the year.

Symptoms: Usually the same for any of the inhalant
allergens. Dogs will typically scratch, shake their head,
rub their ears or muzzle, or lick their feet.

Treatment: There are several methods to treat
inhalant allergies. The most common method is to give anti-inflammatories.
Corticosteroids and antihistamines, if used carefully, can
be a safe, effective way to treat allergies. Your
veterinarian can best determine what combination and dosage
should be used. Shampoos may also be used to treat
allergies. Hypoallergenic shampoo is soothing and can
provide temporary relief to inflamed skin.

Allergy testing is also available to determine what the pet
is allergic to. Samples of possible allergy causing
substances are injected under the animals skin. After a
short time the area is checked for an allergic response.
There is another type of allergy testing in which a blood
sample is taken and submitted to a laboratory that tests for
different plant and food items that may be causing your pet
to itch. Once it is determined exactly what is causing the
allergic reaction, the lab can develop a vaccine to
desensitize your pet to those substances. Allergy testing
and desensitization are a developing science and show some
promise for managing allergies without depending on
steroids.

Flea Allergy

Fleas are a common source of skin allergies in the dog.
Before a female flea can reproduce, she needs take a blood
meal from a host. Most commonly this is a dog or cat, but
any mammal will do. When she bites the animal, she injects
saliva into the skin so she can drink the blood. Some
animals are extremely sensitive to flea saliva. Once they
are bitten and start itching they are at increased risk for
a secondary bacterial skin infection.

Treatment: The key to treating Flea Allergy is to get
rid of the fleas. There are very effective medications that
have been recently developed. Some are given in pill form;
others are applied to the skin. Your veterinarian can
recommend which one would be most effective for your pet.
Sometimes it is also necessary to use steroids to give the
pet relief from the flea allergy.

Treatmets for Flea Allergies

Program -
Contains Lufenuron an agent which inhibits the development of flea
eggs. It comes in a monthly pill, and is available for both dogs and
cats. Program can be used with other products such as Capstar. For
more information click here.

Frontline
- Contains Fipronil an anti-parasitic agent which kills adult
fleas and ticks. It is a topical solution spread over hotspots or
along a line down the spine of your pet. This product is
administered once a month (every 30 days), and can withstand bathing
and swimming, it is however recommended to avoid shampooing until
48hrs after administration.

Revolution - Contains Selamectin, a toxic agent to fleas, ear
mites, feline hookworms, feline roundworms and sarcoptic mange. It
is administered on the skin, but unlike Advantage and Frontline it
is absorbed through the skin thus aiding in treating feline
hookworms and roundworms. Like other topical products the effects
last about 30 days.

Advantage - Contains Imidacloprid, and agent which attacks the
nervous system of insects causing death. It is a topical solution
that remains in the oils of the skin and hair, it is not absorbed
into the bloodstream through the skin. Advantage is applied every
month, and is effective even after bathing and or swimming.

Food Allergy

Food allergies can display themselves as skin problems, or
as digestive system maladies. They usually take a long time
to develop. The allergy can be to the protein source such as
beef, chicken, or pork; or to carbohydrates such as rice, or
wheat.

Symptoms: Diagnosing food allergies takes great
patience. The animal needs to be switched to a food source
that it has never eaten before; for example lamb and rice
diet. It takes at least 12 weeks on the new food to
determine if the old food was the problem.

Treatment: There are several hypoallergenic
prescription diets available. Your veterinarian can
determine which would be the best for your pet. A key to
diagnosing food allergies is to be very strict when trying
the new diet. Any treats or unapproved food items will
invalidate the trial of the hypoallergenic diet.

Shampoos
& SpraysKeep
your pets looking good and smelling great. You will find a
wide variety of pet shampoos and pet conditioners
thats gentle on the skin to the effective medicated pet
shampoos that will get rid of flea and ticks. Also availabe
are superior pet and yard spray, pet odor and stain
removers, and room foggers.